This is achieved through a series of visits of WBC researchers to European colleagues and so-called Get in Touch Meetings, with the aim of supporting the development of joint project proposals. Through ERA WESTBALKAN+ the network of NCPs from the Western Balkan Countries and their links to NCPs in Member States and Candidate Countries will be substantially strengthened. The NCPs will participate in core events related to EU RTD cooperation and in a traineeship in Brussels, where they will meet with and deepen the connections to European institutions.

ERA WESTBALKAN+ will enhance the participation of the Western Balkan RTD community in FP7 by providing targeted information and training for NCPs and the specific RTD client groups. Communication with clients and consulting skills will be developed in the course of these activities, thus through the ERA WESTBALKAN+ project the knowledge, capabilities and skills of WBC NCPs as competent service- and information providers will be strengthened.

Data on the RTD landscape of Croatia and Albania will be integrated into the existing online database RTD in Westbalkan, which currently contains information on RTD key players from the other WBC. Further data collection is planned to provide a complete picture of the research landscapes of all WBC.

Both, the client base, which entries will be doubled, together with the implementation of appropriate tools for customer relations management, lay the basis for better success in FPs and a structured client approach. Thus, ERA WESTBALKAN+ will make the research potential of the Western Balkans both visible and accessible.